LOLER vs PUWER: When Each Regulation Applies

Key differences between LOLER 1998 and PUWER 1998, when each applies, and which equipment needs thorough examination.

LOLER vs PUWER: understanding the regulatory framework

LOLER and PUWER are often treated as interchangeable or as alternatives, but this is a fundamental misconception. Both are statutory instruments made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and both apply to work equipment — but they address different aspects of risk and compliance. Critically, they operate concurrently: satisfying one does not discharge obligations under the other.

For duty holders, understanding the distinction matters because it determines inspection frequency, record-keeping requirements, and the qualifications of the person who must carry out the examination.

What is LOLER 1998?

LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. It applies specifically to equipment used for lifting or lowering loads, including the load itself when that load is a person.

LOLER imposes duties on employers and the self-employed to ensure that:

• Lifting equipment is of adequate strength and stability for each load
• Equipment used to lift persons prevents crushing, trapping, or falling
• Lifting operations are properly planned, supervised, and carried out safely
• Lifting equipment and accessories receive a thorough examination by a competent person at prescribed intervals
• Written reports of every thorough examination are kept and made available to enforcement authorities

Typical LOLER equipment includes passenger and goods lifts, cranes, hoists, fork-lift trucks, MEWPs, telehandlers when used for lifting, vehicle lifts, patient hoists, dock levellers, runway beams, and all lifting accessories such as slings, shackles, eyebolts, and chain blocks.

What is PUWER 1998?

PUWER stands for the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. It applies to any equipment used at work, regardless of whether it is involved in lifting. PUWER is the overarching framework for work equipment safety in Great Britain.

PUWER imposes duties on employers to ensure that work equipment is:

• Suitable for the intended use
• Safe for use, maintained in a safe condition, and inspected to ensure it remains safe
• Used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction, and training
• Accompanied by suitable safety measures such as guards, emergency stops, and warnings

Typical PUWER equipment includes machine tools, vehicles used for work, pressure washers, ladders, power tools, photocopiers, kitchen equipment in commercial catering, and every item of lifting equipment that also falls under LOLER.

The key difference

The simplest way to frame it:

• PUWER covers almost everything. Every item of work equipment is subject to PUWER.
• LOLER is a subset. If the equipment is used for lifting or lowering loads, LOLER applies in addition to PUWER.

A forklift truck is the canonical example. It is work equipment (PUWER applies) and it is lifting equipment (LOLER applies). The forks themselves are lifting accessories, subject to their own separate LOLER examination schedule. Both regimes run in parallel, and the duty holder must satisfy both.

Inspection frequency under each regulation

This is where LOLER and PUWER diverge significantly.

LOLER (thorough examination) requires examination by a competent person at specific statutory intervals:

• Every 6 months for lifting equipment used to lift persons
• Every 6 months for all lifting accessories (slings, shackles, eyebolts, chains)
• Every 12 months for all other lifting equipment
• After any significant event that could affect safety (installation, substantial repair, relocation)
• In accordance with a Written Scheme of Examination drawn up by a competent person, where applicable

PUWER (inspection) is less prescriptive on intervals. It requires inspection at “suitable intervals” determined by the level of risk, the nature of the equipment, the environment, and manufacturer recommendations. For high-risk equipment, this may be daily; for lower-risk equipment, annually or at manufacturer-specified intervals.

A LOLER thorough examination is more detailed, more formal, and must be carried out by a qualified competent person independent of the equipment’s operator. A PUWER inspection is typically less formal and can often be carried out by a suitably trained employee.

Reporting requirements

LOLER requires a written report of thorough examination after every inspection, prepared by the competent person. Under Regulation 11(1)(b), the information in the report must be kept available for inspection — for lifting equipment, for two years or until the next such report is made, whichever is later; for lifting accessories, for two years. If the report identifies defects that present an imminent risk, the competent person must notify the enforcing authority — this is a LOLER Regulation 10 report — and the equipment must be taken out of service until rectified.

PUWER does not specify a standard reporting format. Records of inspection must be kept, but there is no statutory notification requirement equivalent to LOLER Regulation 10.

Who is the “competent person”?

Under LOLER, the competent person must have “such appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined as will enable them to detect defects or weaknesses and to assess their importance in relation to the safety and continued use of the lifting equipment.”

In practice, this means an independent engineer surveyor with recognised qualifications and experience — not the maintenance engineer, not the operator, not the manufacturer. Independence is essential; the HSE has consistently reinforced this in guidance and enforcement.

PUWER inspections do not require the same level of independence. A trained employee or supervisor can conduct them in most circumstances.

Practical implications for duty holders

If you operate any lifting equipment:

1. Assume both regulations apply. The equipment is covered by PUWER by default, and by LOLER because it lifts.
2. Budget for 6-monthly or 12-monthly thorough examinations depending on equipment type.
3. Retain all reports for the statutory retention period.
4. Engage an independent competent person. Your maintenance contractor should not be the same entity carrying out the thorough examination.
5. Act on defect notifications immediately. A LOLER Regulation 10 report can result in HSE enforcement if ignored.

For equipment that is not used for lifting, PUWER alone applies — but that still imposes serious duties around suitability, maintenance, inspection, training, and risk assessment.

Related services

We carry out thorough examinations under both LOLER and PUWER across the South East and nationwide. If you’re unsure whether your equipment falls under LOLER, PUWER, or both, our engineer surveyors can advise:

• Lifting equipment inspections — hoists, accessories, dock levellers
• Crane inspections — tower, mobile, overhead
• Mobile plant inspections — telehandlers, forklifts, excavators
• Work at height equipment inspections — MEWPs, scaffold hoists, harnesses
• Passenger and goods lift inspections — commercial lift installations

For more detail on the thorough examination itself, read our guide on what a thorough examination involves or our LOLER inspection checklist.